Tom Cox was, in 2002, the nominee of the Libertarian Party of Oregon in the Governor’s race. He scored 5% of the vote in that race and is now running for the office of State Treasurer as a Republican. He has been endorsed by the state’s GOP organization as a write-in candidate, due to a quirk in the law.

But Cox says if the Democrat, in this case incumbent Ted Wheeler, were able to Read more »

This morning the Libertarian National Convention delegates voted, by about 60% to 40%, to accept the Credentials Committee recommendation to seat the Oregon delegation submitted by Tim Reeves, over that submitted by Wes Wagner. Credentials Committee Chair Emily Salvette had reported that the Reeves group had offered that any Wagner delegate could take a vacant slot in the LPOR delegation, and that two had already Read more »

Recently, a questionnaire of ten personal and ten policy questions was sent via e-mail to each Libertarian Party presidential candidate listed at Politics1. R. Lee Wrights was the only exception, since he answered the same questions last summer. Former presidential candidate RJ Harris also answered the questions last summer.

This time, only Robert Milnes and Joy Waymire decided to fill out the questionnaire. Dave Read more »

Third parties were the first electoral parties to push a number of then-fringe issues into the mainstream over the years in the United States. From the abolition of slavery and universal suffrage to social security and prohibition, third parties have pioneered many issues that became law or nearly so. Read more »

On May 2, the Wyoming Secretary of State announced that the Country Party petition has enough valid signatures. The Secretary of State put out this press release, which says that having six parties on the ballot this year is a Wyoming record.

The press release is wrong. In 1936 Wyoming also had six parties on the ballot: Democratic, Republican, Union, Socialist, Communist, and Prohibition. However, the Read more »

The number of signatures needed for an independent candidate in Arizona will be 31,111 valid signatures this year, for statewide office. The formula is 3% of the number of active registered voters who are not members of a qualified party. However, any registered voter may sign an independent candidate’s petition.

The Arizona law is irrational, because independents for statewide office now need Read more »

Bernie Quigley comments on what he thinks would be a formidable and workable third party over at The Pundit’s Blog at The Hill.

Ron Paul has brought a sea change in American politics. Without Paul there is no Tea Party of substance. It is merely a populist howl without vision or direction and we have heard it all before. But Paul brought substance: states’ rights, constitutional government Read more »

On April 30, the California State University at Northridge (in Los Angeles) Student Association sponsored a debate for candidates running for U.S. House in the 30th district. This is one of the best-known U.S. House races in California this year, because it pits two Democratic incumbent Congressmen against each other, Howard Berman and Brad Sherman. Redistricting forced them to run against each other. Read more »

On May 2, the Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns & Elections Committee held a hearing on SB 15, the bill that eases the number of signatures for independent candidates (for office other than President) and newly-qualifying parties. The bill also moves the petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties from March to May.

The Alabama Secetary of State’s office sent a representative to oppose the part of the bill Read more »